Brewer Sam Wright's Description: I was going for an approachable Belgian beer that people could drink more than one of. I wanted to use a simple malt bill with British crystal malts to provide a nice sweetness that doesn't get muddled with the yeast character and the hops. To add an American element, Chinook hops were used for bittering, which adds a piney flavor. Saaz hops were added for aroma that blends well with the yeast. I selected a yeast that adds Belgian yeast character without going overboard with phenols. I wanted to make a beer that used ingredients from disparate brewing traditions that worked well together.

12 oz bottle pours a crystal clear copper color (a little dark for a BPA) with a small cap of tan head. Average retention and lacing.

Nose is a little 'dirtier' than a typical Belgian pale ale, as it has more caramel and even a little toffee. Small bit of grass in there for the hops. It seems to be a little upside down when compared to many of the style, maltier and less hoppy than is expected. Touch of apple fruitiness comes out as it warms.

Taste brings everything back into focus nicely, the fruity yeast playing well with a honey-drizzled biscuit. Moderate grassy hop adds to the complexity and well-roundedness. I like the mouthfeel, very creamy and holds the contributions from yeast, malt and hops all the way through. Pretty good beer, I am impressed with this beer, although I find it to be quite different from the typical BSPA or BPA.

Poured into a snifter glass. The beer pours hazy amber with a thin, white head that dissipates quickly. The beer appears to be decently carbonated due to the visibility of the tiny bubbles rising in the beer. The aroma of the beer is very malty on the nose, smelling of caramel and bread. There's a touch of floral and piney hops in the smell. What I don't get are expected Belgian yeast phenols, which are very restrained here. The bready character of the malt is more prominent in the flavor as the hops provide some nice balancing bitterness to the hints of caramel. I get some nice piney and floral notes from the hops in the taste. The beer was released a little over a month ago, so it still has some nice hop notes here. The body is medium with refreshingly moderate carbonation. The finish is slightly dry and the drinkability is high. This is a very good beer even if it is not quite up to what you would expect from the style. The brewery accomplished what it set out to do by making a mash of different brewing traditions with these ingredients. What you get is a nice ale that would also pair well with meals.

A-hazy dark copper color with an off white head that leaves a laceS-caramel malt, yeasty, and some spiceT-spice, roasted malt, and a metallic taste. The metallic taste stays with you til the end. Later in the glass the hop flavor comes in.M-light body and low carbonationO-my last Saint Arnold's until I go back to Texas. I will pick up some more while I am there. This beer is much better as the it gets warmer, and I will note that and make sure I do that the next glass I have.